Music-holder.



No. 727,493- PATENTED MAY 5, 1903- U. G. TE-RWILLIGER.

MUSIC HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14. 1902.

110 MODEL.

BYW

A TTORNE YS.

Um'rn STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MUSIC-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,493, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed July 14:, 1902. Serial No. 115, 30. (No model.)

To a. whom it warty concern:

Be it known that I, ULYsEs CARLIN TER- WILLIGER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Islip, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Music-Holder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to that form of musicholder for the use of bandsmen and others which is made in the shape of a pocket with transparent sides, inclosing the music so as to protect it from the weather and yet perlnit the music to be read through the transparent sides.

My invention consists in a simpler, lighter, and more practical construction of such holder, which I will now proceed to describe with reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved holder. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the improved holder and sheets of music therein, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the transparent pocket of the holder.

The holder A is of rectangular shape with flat sides closed at the ends and at the top, forming a shallow pocket, the bottom 10 being open. The holder is made in one piece entirely of a waterproof transparent material, clear celluloid being preferably employed, and the upper edge of the holder and the edges at the end are preferably straight or flat, so that the holder has a box-like contour.

The sheets of music 11 are introduced into the holder at the bottom,and the sheets are so divided that a portion of them face one side of the holder and the other portion the opposite side, so that two numbers or sheets of music are always exposed, and either sheet or number can be quickly brought within the range of vision of the operator, and after one number has been played the other number can be brought within the line of vision by simply reversing the holder. After both numbers exposed have been played they can be removed from their exposed positions and introduced between the sheets in the holder at the center of the mass, thus exposing two other numbers. The bottom edges of the pocket bounding the opening 10 are perfectly flexible and collapsible and are clamped to gether upon the in usic-sheets by a springclamp B, which may be the usual form of musicians harp, but which has an important and correlated value in completing the function of the holder, as it pinches the flexible sides of the pocket together upon the music, as seen in Fig. 2, and holds the sheets of music from dropping awry or falling out, thus closing the open mouth of the holder and holding the music-sheets without any stiff marginal frame or special retaining devices. The music is thus held securely in place, every note being clearly visible regardless of the inclemency of the weather, and the music can be arranged in the holder prior to a parade or concert work. By clamping the transparent sides down closely upon the music, as described, the notes are much more easily read than if some distance away from the transparent sides. The music-holder, being made from the very best materialas, for example, clear celluloid-lends to the band a clean and neat appearance, and, furthermore, the said holders prevent the loss of music, which now frequently occurs by reason of the music being exposed to rain, snow, and damp atmosphere.

I would have it understood that I do not claim, broadly, a music-holder with transparent sides, as I am aware that a rigid rectangular frame, with transparent sides and special retaining devices for the music, has been heretofore used, nor do I claim a springclamp; but when a music-holding pocket is madein one piece, entirely of transparent material with flexible side edges along its mouth, these flexible side edges are collapsed and pinched upon the music-sheet by the action of the clamp-spring, and the music is thus held from falling out without any other appliances to prevent it, and the music is more easily read. This makes the music-holder of the simplest, neatest, and cheapest form without in any way impairing any ofits functions or values and establishes a correlation between the pocket and the clamp in completing the function of the holder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A music-holder consisting of a shallow pocket of transparent waterproof material closed on its two ends and its top and having bottom having edges constructed simply of its bottom opening through flexible and colthe flexible and collapsible transparent ma-, lapsible marginal edges, combined with a terial and adapted to be pinched upon the I5 spring-clamp pinching these collapsible edges music within substantially as described.

5 together, to close the outlet and retain the In testimony whereof I have signed my music against falling out, and to hold the muname to this specification in the presence of sic in proper upright and true position subtwo subscribing witnesses. stantially as described.

2. A music-holder pocket made entirely of ULYSES CARLIN TERWH'LIGDR' 1o flexible transparent Waterproof material-with Witnesses:

fiat closed ends, a flat top, an open bottom, HOWARD S. NEWINS, and flat sides, all made in one piece, the said JOHN L. ABUD. 

